Daily Devotional

Daily Devotional for Sunday June 21, 2009

Today is the Day the World Celebrates Father's Day

(Ephesians 6:4)

Today is the day the world celebrates Father's Day. In our busy lives, it is
good that we are forced to take a moment and recognize our dads. I had a
wonderful father who unfortunately passed away when I was 16. Even though I
missed sharing those young adult years with my dad, it was his love and
nurturing in the early years of my life that helped build the spiritual
foundation in my life. After praying about today's Devotional, the Lord has
directed me to use it as a special encouragement to the dads out there.

How often do we take what dad does for granted? There are Godly men out
there who are the spiritual heads of their homes. They work hard to provide
the income needed to sustain day to day life. They love and honor their
wife. They realize their children are gifts from God and help nurture and
mold their lives. These dads realize that serving God is their divine
purpose and being the head of their home is their first and most important
ministry.

Today is a day to make sure dad knows just how much we love and appreciate
him.

For those dads out there that are working hard to be the kind of dad I just
described, know that you are in my prayers. Know that each day as you spend
that special time alone with the Lord, He will encourage you, prepare you,
and make you adequate for that day. You are on the path God wants you to be
on as you strive each day to serve Him, making your wife and children your
number one priorities. Balance is one of the biggest hurdles you face each
day, and I pray the Lord will help you find that perfect balance between
work, home, serving Him, and relaxing.

The other big hurdle is being able to give God control. Having so much
responsibility each day, letting go and really trusting God at certain time
is not easy. Just remember, in John 15:5 it says, "Without me you can do
nothing." God has given you great talents, great gifts, but without the Lord
's strength, and He being in charge, it won't make any difference. Make your
faith real as you learn to trust Him more each day.

I recognize today that there are also many dads who aren't the kind of dad I
described. Unless someone is totally committed and surrendered to the Lord,
overseeing the responsibilities of marriage and children often suffer.
Without the Lord leading your life, getting caught up in all of the traps of
this world happen frequently, and life really never makes much sense. The
importance of being a husband or a father, doesn't have the significance
that it should. That is why so many men have left the home, abandoned their
children, and continually are caught up in every kind of sin imaginable.

To those dads I want you to know that if you are tired of running from God,
tired of the pain, tired of the heartache, tired of nothing working . . .
this is the perfect day to turn it all around. Even though, this is a day we
celebrate our earthly fathers, there is a Heavenly Father who loves you so
much, and if you call out to Him, He will help you straighten your life out.

For those wives, ex-wives, and children of dads who haven't been the Godly
dad the Bible talks of, pray for your dad. Know that deep down he is
hurting, and only surrendering to Christ will change that. God loves your
dad more than you do, and He is the one who can change your dad's heart. I'
ll pray with you for your dad.

I want you to know that I love you and do care about you. For you dads out
there today, let me encourage you by telling you . . . if you keep Jesus
first in your life, He will help you overcome the trials of this life, and
allow you to see victories in every area of your life. In your marriage, in
your children, in your career, in your service for Him....if you will simply
trust Him and operate in His strength, you will know blessings and joy above
and beyond anything you ever imagined.

Please know that I will be praying for you today, and if you need any
special prayer to be the man, the husband, the father, the servant God has
called you to be....please don't hesitate to email me at:
bkeller@liveprayer.com. God has given us many great examples of how to be a
true father. Follow Him each day and He will mold you and make you into the
father He has raised you up to be.

In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

About LivePrayer

LivePrayer was founded for the sole purpose of having a site on the internet where people can go 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for prayer. The entire core mission of LivePrayer is to give those who are hurting... HOPE.